1. ???? With the mercy of Allah the Almighty I have been reading Surah Kahf on Fridays. I would like to know if it is preferred to recite it after sunrise on Friday or can one read it after Maghrib salah on Thursday?

2.????? What is the status or benefit ? if any- of crying at times other than when in the remembrance of Allah? Is it always best not to cry except when in the remembrance of Allah?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-sal?mu ?alaykum wa-rahmatull?hi wa-barak?tuh.

1.????? There are many virtues regarding the recitation of Surah al Kahf on Fridays?.

Usama radhiallahu anhu narrates that a grandson of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam (that had passed away) was brought to Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam. He placed the baby in his lap and started weeping. So Hazrat Sa?d radhiallahu anhu exclaimed ?Oh Prophet of Allah, what is this?? (Referring to the crying of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The Prophet of Allah replied: ?This (crying) is a mercy that Allah has kept in who He wishes from his servants. And Allah only has mercy on his merciful servants?. (Bukhari/Muslim)

Crying is ?mahmood? (praiseworthy), not maqsood (not the objective). It is narrated in Bukhari and Muslim:

Abu Hurairah radhiallahu anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: There will be seven types of people that Allah will give shade on the day that there will be no shade beside his shade. A just ruler... and a person that remembers Allah until his eyes get filled with tears...

It is understood from the above quoted hadith that crying is desirable. However, if one is unable to cry, he will not be blameworthy as crying is not the ultimate goal. Attaining the closeness to Allah is.